Long-time South African Premiership manager Muhsin Ertugral criticised Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos for leaving Relebohile Mofokeng unused in South Africa’s 2-0 World Cup opening defeat to Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on June 11, writing that the selection was the team’s biggest error.
Ertugral, who has coached Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs and served as a technical advisor to the Turkiye national team, said the starting lineup did not fit the strengths of the squad. He argued that, facing a match in which South Africa spent most of the time defending and seeking attacking transitions, it made little sense to keep transition players on the bench.
The Turkish tactician singled out Mofokeng and Oswin Apollis as the type of players he would have expected to form the basis of a game plan focused on quick counterattacks. Ertugral wrote on Instagram that the bigger error was the tactical choice to play a lineup unsuited to those strengths, rather than the misplaced pass from goalkeeper Ronwen Williams that led to Mexico’s first goal.
South Africa struggled for forward momentum and looked stilted in midfield for large portions of the match, allowing Mexico to exploit mistakes and score twice. Ertugral said the team appeared caught between identities, unable to play the offensive transition game that was effective during qualification and at the last Africa Cup of Nations.
He also questioned attempts to build from the back in the opening stages, warning that prioritising possession too heavily in the first 30 minutes makes it harder to reach the final third and easier to lose the ball under pressure. It remains unclear whether Broos will select Mofokeng for South Africa’s next Group A match against Czechia on June 18 or retain the more defensive setup.
